Squeegee



March 5, 1963 E. s. NEAL 3,079,624

SQUEEGEE Filed April 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Earl 5. Neal 1N VENTOR.

United States Patent ()1 3,079,524 SQUEEGEE Earl S. Neal, San Francisco, Calif. (2690 El Camino Real, San Mateo, Calif.) Filed Apr. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 190,485 19 .laims. (Cl. 15-245) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in Squeegees, particularly although by no means necessarily, for removing water, etc. from floors, pavements and other surfaces which have been hosed down, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an implement of this character which is adapted to be used with either a push or pull stroke.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved reversible squeegee of the aforementioned character comprising unique means for retaining the blade in the selected functioning position.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a squeegee of the character described wherein the blade may be expeditiously set or adjusted for push or pull operation without being touched with the hands of the user and while in a standing position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a squeegee of the character set forth comprising novel means for mounting the blade for oscillation on the head assembly.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a reversible squeegee which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a reversible squeegee constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the device, showing the blade in the pull position;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view, showing the blade in intermediate position as when being swung from the pull to the push position;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view, showing the blade in push position;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the device with portions broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view principally in vertical section through one end portion of the device, taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 88 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of the blade supporting means on one end portion of the device.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated handle 10 of wood or other suitable material. The handle 10 may also be of any desired length and diameter. Mounted on the forward end portion of the handle it) is a head assembly which is designated generally by reference numeral 11.

The head assembly 11 includes a cylindrical crosshead 12 which is fixedly mounted on the forward end portion of the handle it). Toward this end the crosshead 12 includes at an intermediate point a radial socket 315 which receives the handle it). Mounted on the end portions of the crosshead 12 is a pair of brackets 14 of suit- 3,979,624 Patented Mar. 5, 1963 able metal or other material. The brackets 14 include generally U-shaped clips or yokes 15 comprising flat bight portions 16 and inwardly ofiset legs or end portions 17 of arcuate cross-section which straddle the end portions of the crosshead 12 and conform to the periphery thereof. The end portions or legs 17 of the members 15 are apertured as indicated at 18 to receive screws 19 for securing the brackets 14 on the crosshead 12. Fixedly secured as by rivets 20 on the fiat bight portion 16 of the members 15 are vertical channel bars 21. The bars 21 extend below the clips or yokes 15 and are provided with openings 22 in their lower end portions. Openings 23 in the bars 21 accommodate the rivets 20. The side flanges 24 of the bars 21 terminate short of the lower ends of said bars. At the upper ends thereof the bars 21 terminate in outturned apertured ears or the like 25.

Mounted beneath the crosshead 12 in spaced parallelism therewith is a rod or shaft 26 the end portions of which are journaled in the openings 22 in the lower end portions of the bars 21. Mounted on the shaft 26 is a generally U-shaped clamp 27 of sheet metal or other suitable material. The bight portion 28 of the clamp 27 is shaped to accommodate the shaft 26 and is secured thereon by a pin 29. As shown to advantage in FIGURE 8 of the drawing, from the shaft 26 the sides or jaws 34 of the clamp 27 converge and contact each other, as indicated at 31. Mounted between the sides or jaws 30 of the clamp 27 and protruding therefrom is a blade 32 of rubber or other suitable resilient material. Fastening elements 33 secure the blade 32 in position. Coil springs 34- have one end connected to the apertu-red ears 25 on the upper ends of the bars 21. The other ends of the coil springs 34 are connected to apertured lugs or ears 35 which project laterally from the clamp 27 adjacent the blade 32. Mounted on the crosshead 12, adjacent the ends thereof, are pairs of downwardly divergent stops 36 for the clamp 27. The stops 36 include angularly extending, arcuate inner end portions 37 which are apertured to accommodate securing screws 38.

It is thought that the use or operation of the implement will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when it is desired to use the device with a pulling stroke the blade assembly comprising the mem bers 27 and 32 is swung to the position shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 of the drawing, in which position said blade assembly extends at a forward and downward inclination from the crosshead 12. When it is desired to convert to a pushing operation the blade assembly is swung through the intermediate position of FIGURE 3 of the drawing to the position shown in FIGURE 4 of said drawing, in which position said blade assembly eX- tends at a rearward and downward inclination from the crosshead 12. In both positions the blade assembly trails the crosshead 12 in the opreating stroke of the implement. The construction and arrangement is such that the coil springs 3 swing the blade assembly past dead center with a snap action and retain said blade in either position against the respective front and rear stops 36. The construction and arrangement also is such that the conversion may be quickly accomplished from a standing position by simply placing a foot, as indicated at 39 in FIG- URE 3 of the drawing, in front or in back of the blade assembly. When the foot is so positioned it acts as a stop against which the blade assembly is engaged for causing said blade to swing to the opposite position.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope oi the in ent o as cla m d.

What is claimed as new i as follows:

1. A reversible squeegee'comprising, a handle, a blade pivotally mounted for oscillation between two optional operative positions on the handle, and resilient means for snapping the blade past dead center and yieldingly retaining same in the selected operative position whensaid l-ade is swung from either position to the other.

2, A reversible squeegee comprising a handle, a blade pivotally mounted for oscillation between two optional operative positions on the handle, and resilient means for snapping the blade'past dead center and yieldingly retaining same in the selected operative position when said'blade'i's swung from either position to the other, said means including at least one coil spring connected under tension to the handle and the blade on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of said blade;

3. The combination of claim 2, together with stepson the handle for arresting the swinging movement of the blade under the influence of said spring in the operative positions.

4. A reversible squeegee comprising an elongated h'and1e,'a cross head on one end of said handle, a bladepivotally mounted for oscillation between'two optional operative' positions on the crosshead in'parallelism therewith,- and tensioned coil spring connected to the end portions of thecrosshead and to the blade on opposite sides of the pivotal axis ofthe latter for snapping said blade past dead center and yieldinglyretaining same in the selected operative position when saidblade isswung from either position to, the othen.

5. The combination of claim 4, together with means for arresting the swinging movement of the blade under the influence of the springs in said operative positions.

6. The combination of claim 5, said means including downwardly divergent stops mounted on the crosshead on opposite sides of the blade for engagement thereby.

7. A reversible squeegee comprising an elongated handl e,; a crosshead on one end portion of said handle, vertical bars on the ends of the crosshead, a blade pivotally mounted for oscillation between the lower end portions of the bars, and tensioned coil springs connected to the upper portions of the bars and to the blade for snapping said blade past dead center and yieldingly retaining same in the selected operative position when said blade is swung from either position to the other.

8. The combination of claim], together withstops on V the crosshead with the blade operable therebetween and engageable therewith to be arrested thereby in said operative positions.

9. A reversible squeegee in accordance with claim.7, said blade including a clamp of generally U-shaped crosssectionproviding a bight portion and a pair of opposed jaws, a shaft mounted in said bightportion and having its end portionsjournaled in the bars; and a resilient strip securedbetween the jaws and including a' protruding lon-.- gitudinal marginal portion.

10. A reversible squeegee comprising an elongated handie, a. cylindrical crosshead on one end of said handle generally U-shaped clips mounted longitudinally onthe. end portions of the crosshead, vertical bars mounted on the bight portions of-said clips and extendingupwardly and downwardlytheretrom, a shaft journaled in the lower end portions of the bars and parallelingthe crosshead, a clamp of generally U-shaped cross-section receiving the. shaft in its bight portion for mounting said clamp on said shaft, a resilient wiper blade mounted in the clamp, tensioned coil springs connected to the upper end portions of the bars and to the clamp for snapping the blade past' dead center when said blade is swung toward either of two optionaloperativepositions and for yieldingly retainingsaid blade in said positions,- andstops for the blade mounted on the crosshead on opposite side of the clamp for engagement thereby.

Menkhaus Sept. .7, 1920. Grossfed Sept. 23, 1958 

1. A REVERSIBLE SQUEEGEE COMPRISING, A HANDLE, A BLADE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR OSCILLATION BETWEEN TWO OPTIONAL OPERATIVE POSITIONS ON THE HANDLE, AND RESILIENT MEANS FOR SNAPPING THE BLADE PAST DEAD CENTER AND YIELDINGLY RETAINING SAME IN THE SELECTED OPERATIVE POSITION WHEN SAID BLADE IS SWUNG FROM EITHER POSITION TO THE OTHER. 